CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- FOX is continuing to make early preparations for its 2004-05 schedule, as the network announced today it has renewed "The Bernie Mac Show," "The O.C.," "Malcolm in the Middle" and "24" through next season. In addition, FOX has picked up its late-night sketch comedy series "Mad TV" for three additional seasons.

The news was announced via press release this afternoon:

FOX PICKS UP FOUR PRIMETIME SERIES FOR 2004-2005 SEASON

"THE BERNIE MAC SHOW," "24," "THE O.C.," And "MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE" To Return

Late-Night Comedy "MADtv" Also Picked Up For 3 Additional Years

FOX Broadcasting Company has ordered an additional season of four of the network's hit primetime series for the 2004-2005 season. THE BERNIE MAC SHOW, 24, THE O.C. and MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE will all return with a full complement of episodes for the 2004-2005 season, it was announced today by Gail Berman, President, Entertainment, for FOX.

Berman also announced that the network's late-night comedy series MADtv has been picked up for three additional seasons.

"We are delighted to bring back BERNIE, MALCOLM, 24 and THE O.C., said Berman. "These celebrated and groundbreaking shows are the backbone of FOX's scripted programming and we're pleased that these outstanding series will remain a vital part of our year-round programming mix." The four renewals will join THAT '70s SHOW, THE SIMPSONS and KING OF THE HILL, which have already received full-season orders. MADtv, now in its ninth season, recently celebrated its 200th episode. The sketch comedy show will remain on FOX's late-night schedule until 2008.

ABOUT THE SERIES:

Inspired by the real life of comedian Bernie Mac, THE BERNIE MAC SHOW is a daring half-hour comedy about a man with unique views on parenting. THE BERNIE MAC SHOW has won the prestigious Peabody and Humanitas Awards, an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, two NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series, and was honored by the Television Critics Association for Outstanding Achievement in a Comedy and for Individual Achievement in a Comedy (Bernie Mac). In addition, Mac won two NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series and was nominated for an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe two years in a row, and for a Screen Actors Guild Award for his work on the series. Peter B. Aronson is the executive producer of THE BERNIE MAC SHOW, which is produced by Regency Television in association with 20th Century Fox Television.

24 is one of the most innovative and thrilling drama series on television. Now concluding its third season and told in real time, each episode covers one hour and the season's entire story takes place over one day. The series, which is No. 1 in its time period in virtually all key demos, won 2002 Emmy Awards for writing and editing, and has been nominated for a total of 20 Emmys in its first three seasons, including twice for Outstanding Drama Series and twice for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (for Kiefer Sutherland). The series also has received seven Golden Globe nominations (Best Television Series � Drama, three times; Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Drama, three times with Sutherland winning in 2001; and Best Performance by a Supporting Actor for Dennis Haysbert). Created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran, 24 is a production of Real Time Productions and Imagine Television in association with 20th Century Fox Television. Surnow, Cochran, Brian Grazer and Howard Gordon are the executive producers.

THE O.C., the top-rated new series among teen viewers, is a story of parents and teens, husbands and wives, and all their relationships set against the backdrop of Newport Beach, Orange County, California � a wealthy, harbor-front community where everything and everyone appears to be perfect. But beneath the surface is a world of shifting loyalties and identities, of kids living secret lives hidden from their parents and of parents living secret lives hidden from their children. When a troubled teen from the wrong side of the tracks is thrust into this world, he swiftly learns that nothing is what it seems, and his arrival serves as the catalyst for the forging of new alliances, rekindling of old flames and formation of unlikely friendships. From Hypnotic, Wonderland Sound and Vision in association with Warner Bros. Television Production Inc., THE O.C. is executive-produced by Josh Schwartz, Doug Liman, McG, Dave Bartis and Bob DeLaurentis.

Winner of the prestigious Peabody Award and five Emmys to date and the no. 1 show its time period among young audiences, MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE continues to be one of the most distinctive and creative series on television. Created and executive-produced by Emmy Award-winning writer Linwood Boomer, this inventive half-hour series, which recently celebrated its 100TH episode, is seen through the eyes of Malcolm (Frankie Muniz), a regular kid with a genius IQ trying to navigate his way through life despite the various obstacles thrown in his way � a complete misunderstanding of girls, an eclectic group of classmates, embarrassing parents, and the constant burden of masterminding plans to get himself and his brothers either into or out of trouble. MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE is a Regency Television production created and executive-produced by Boomer. Gary Murphy, Neil Thompson, Michael Glouberman, Andrew Orenstein, Alex Reid and Rob Ulin serve as co-executive producers.

Since joining FOX in October 1995, MADtv's refreshing, politically incorrect humor and dead-on parodies have made staying up late on Saturdays fun again. Season-to-date, MADtv is the No. 1 regularly scheduled late-night program among Teens; and the No. 2 regularly scheduled late-night program among Adults 18-34. MADtv is a production of QDe. The executive producers are David Salzman, Quincy Jones and Dick Blasucci.